Lock



Feb. 20, 1951 A. M, MALOUF 2,542,420

LOCK

Filed March 4, 1947 MMM ` Vl/EN TCD/Q., ggl HAM/W. /WAm//f 4 A TTG/@NEW Patented Feb. 20, n1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Loox Abraham M. -Malouf, Burbank, Calif. Application March. 4, 1947, serial No. 732,256 1 claim. (ol. 711-2169) This invention relates particularly to locks and speciiically that type of lock wherein the bolt may be moved varying amounts. The invention is particularly applicable to locking caps such as may be used upon the neck of gasoline tanks. Locking caps are provided for the purpose of preventing theft of gasoline from the tank. However most locking caps have a predetermined size for each type of neck. The present cap is so arranged that the locking elements, which in the present instance are key operated, may be moved predetermined distances depending upon the size of the neck. For instance, after insertion of the key, the key may be turned, which movement will shoot the bolt a distance depending upon the internal diameter of the neck. After the bolt has been shot, the key may continue to turn a predetermined amount or to such a position as will allow a withdrawal of the key from the lock. The present device therefore provides a universal type of lock structure in that it will lit various diameter necks.

The invention has for an object the provision of a lock of the character stated which is simple of structure, foolproof in operation, readily assembled or disassembled, which is positive in action and generally superior to locks now known to the inventor.

With the above and other objects in View, the invention consists in the novel and useful provision, formation, construction, association and relative arrangement of parts, members and features, all as shown in a certain embodiment in the accompanying drawing, described generally and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of the neck of a gasoline tank with a locking cap incorporating the invention secured thereto;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view on an enlarged scale and taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevation of a portion of the lock, looking in the direction of the arrow 4 in Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing:

In Fig. 1 I have shown a cap I embodying and incorporating the invention, which cap rests on the upper end of a neck 2 associated with a gasoline tank. It is understood that Fig. 1 is illustrative only, as the invention may have other adaptations. Many automobiles today incorporate locking caps to protect gasoline within the tank against theft. As a rule. lthese locking caps 2 are of different sizes, depending of course upon the neck diameter. With the present invention the internal diameter of the neck makes little dierence, as the locking cap is so built as to overlie the top of necks within a given size range, with the locking mechanism so constituted as to effect locking engagement with said neck.

In Fig. l it will be observed that the upper end of the neck 2 is in-turned, as shown at 3, and it is this portion that engages the bolts 4 of the cap. Generally when a key 5 is inserted Within the lock and the key turned, the bolts are shot to position. If however the bolts are not completely shot, due to the diameter of the neck being less than normal for a given lock, the key could not be removed from the lock. With the present invention the key may continue to be turned, regardless of the position to which the bolts have been shot, and removed from the lock.

The mechanism for accomplishing the shooting of the bolts, as well as removal of the key from the lock, is detailed in the remaining iigures', wherein in Fig. 2 the cap I is shown as being bored at 6 so as to accommodate the lock barrel l. This lock barrel may be of any construction and adapted to hold tumblers which are actuated when a key such as 5 is inserted to permit actuation of the revolving plug. The lower end of the revolving plug is shown at 8, and said plug is held within a recess portion 9 of the cap I lby means of a ring III. The plug 8 is provided with a pin II, and this pin is adapted to actuate other members of the invention when the revolving plug is turned through the medium of the key 5. Specifically the pin I I is detachably received within a bore I 2 of a disc I3, which disc is secured to an annular pawl I4. The pawl is provided with a camtoothed end face I5, see Fig. 4. An elongated pinion I 6 has crown teeth, as shown at i?, the teeth being complementary to those of the pawl. In effect this provides what is called a crown ratchet for the pinion. The pinion is provided with a bore I8 and a lcounterbere I9. It is intended that a pin 20 should iit within the axial bore of the pawl and bore I 8 of the pinion for the purpose of centering the two parts. This pin may be carried either by the pawl or by the pinion.

A casing 2| is secured in any convenient manner, such as'by screws 22, to the cap I and this casing is adapted to enclose other mechanism of the lock. This casing is provided with a pin 23 which is central of the casing and extends within the counterbore I9 of the pinion. Pin 23 is adapted to center a coil spring 24, which coll 3 spring is received within the counterbore I9 and urges the crown ratchet portion of the pinion into engagement with the cam teeth of the pawl.

The casing is adapted to conne a. pair of bolts 25 and 26, and the casing is slotted at 21 and 28 to permit movement of the bolts outward of the casing. Both bolts have reduced width shank portions designated generally as 29, which shank portions are provided with teeth 3i) to form a rack. The base portion of the shank is longitudinally grooved as shown at 3 I, and the base porsition where it may be withdrawn from the lock. It is apparent that when the key is reinserted in the lock, the pawl will positively turn the pinion to move the bolts inwardly, whereupon the cap may be removed, as may likewise the key 5.

If the cap is to be used on a large sized neck it is evident that the key 5 as it turns within the Y lock will allow a full rotation of the pinion, to

tion 32 of the casing 2l carries a channel mein ber 33, the legs of which channel member enter the grooves 3i of the bolt Shanks. CEt is obvious that the channel member functions as a guide for movement of the bolts. The Shanks are provided with bores 34 adapted to in part coni-ine coil springs 35; one end of each spring surrounds a pin 35 carried by the casing, see Fig. 3. It is intended that each spring 35 should urge its respective bolt outwardly of the casing. The teeth of the pinion I6 are adapted to lie between the rack teeth 33 of the pair of bolts. As a consequence, turning of the pinion in one direction will retract the bolts to compress the springs 35, while a turning of the pinion in the opposite direction will allow the bolts to move outwardly of the casing under actuation of the springs 35.

The operation, uses and advantages of the invention just described are as follows:

If we assume that we have a gasoline tank wherein the bolts 25 and 2G may be moved to t within an internal diameter neck of four inches, and the said cap is to be used on a neck having an internal diameter of two-and-three-quarter inches, it is obvious that under ordinary circumstances la cap accommodating the four-inch diameter could not be used, for the reason that when the key is inserted in the lock and the bolts shot, the bolts would always have to move their full distance, otherwise the key could not be removed. In the present instance, if the large size cap is to vbe utilized on the small neck, the key project the bolts outwardly a given distance or up to the last rack tooth.

It is apparent from the drawing and descrip- Vtion given that a device of this character is easily assembled. The screws 22 may be removed from the cap, which will permit separation of the casing 2i which carries the bolts and the pinion. The' pin I I is readily removed from the bore of the disc i3. .Thus the'pawl may be removed along with thepinion, and the bolts may be lifted from the guide. Thus all the parts may be inspected and oiled as may be necessary, with easy kreassemblage.

I claim:

A closure lock for the filling tube of a tank having an inner downwardly curved flange, comprising a lock barrel and revolving plug operated in the lock barrel, a pawl formed with a cam base portion, a pinion having a. crown cam portion complementary to the cam portion of said pawl, a spring urging the crown cam of the pin- 1 operating lock bolts adapted to engage the lower edge of may be inserted in the lock and turned, which will shoot the bolts so that the ends of the bolts will strike the inner surface of the neck. However the key would have to continue to turn until it reached a position which would permit its withdrawal from the lock. Referring to Fig. 4, the revolving plug is turned in the direction of the arrow, and when the bolts strike the inner surface of the neck and are unable to move further, the pinion teeth will of course not move the rack portions of the bolts any further, with the result that continued turning of the pawl will depress the pinion, due to the cam teeth, .and allow the pawl to move over the crown ratchet portion of the pinion, until the key has reached a poion into engagement with said cam base of the pawl, a casing secured to the lower side of the lock barrel, a pair of sliding spring-pressed lock bolts formed with racks on their adjacent edges, through openings in the casing, said said flange securing the closure to the filling tube, said pinion engaging the racks retracting the lock bolts when said pinion is moved in one direction, said lock bolts being movable to their extended positions by said springs, and said lock bolts contacting said flange neck restricting outward movement of the lock bolts and closure.

ABRAHAM M. MALOUF.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

' UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Y 

